Wildlife Sightings in Chile: 8 Tips.

Wildlife Sightings in Chile

Has it ever happened to you that you go to a protected wildlife area, they give you a list of species of fauna that you can find in the place and yet you leave disappointed because you didn’t see a tenth of what they showed you or said there was?

By Andres Gonzalez Navarrete, Biologist and Expedition Guide

This is very common, especially in Chile. Unfortunately, Chile does not have a high diversity of species compared to countries like Colombia, Peru, Mexico, USA, Australia, countries in Africa and Asia, etc., where wildlife sightings are a little easier due to the number and size of species that exist there. However, in Chile has a high percentage of endemism.

Wildlife richness in Chile

This means that in Chile there are many species that can only be found here and nowhere else in the world. This makes the species richness in Chile very particular and unique! For all these reasons, being able to observe a species of wildlife in the wild in Chile has a certain added value.

As a biologist, I have spent several years monitoring wildlife and it requires patience and attention. Animals in the wild behave as such, i.e. they will start up if they feel threatened, they will avoid approaching people and will move away from noises.

Wildlife unpredictability

You must also understand that wildlife, despite having some marked patterns in its behavior, is above all, unpredictable, and may sometimes change its behavior with the weather, the season, the time of year, the temperature, the reproductive season of the species, etc.

It is also necessary to consider that not all fauna is found in the same type of environment, Likewise, not all birds are up in the trees, or not all frogs are in the water, etc. For example, a Tench (Mimus thenca) (a bird endemic to Chile, present in the park) can be found in grasslands and scrubland perched in low trees or on the ground, but not in the forest.

In this article I will mention some points that will help you make the most of your visit to the park, maximizing your chances of seeing wildlife.

Ideal attire

The first thing, which we can improve before leaving the house is to avoid using flashy colors Try to wear colors that can, in a way, help you blend in with the environment. It is not necessary to come dressed in military or camouflage, but try to use colors in soft shades of green, brown or gray. In general animals see a smaller range of colors than humans (most birds see a wider range of colors), however, in nature bright colors are a sign of danger and animals tend to start or move away.

Avoid the use of perfumes

Also, we can avoid the use of perfumes. Wildlife in general is very sensitive to smells and scents, so any strange odor may be a sign of danger to them, and they will move away.

Walk in silence

Whenever you are on the trails, always try to walk in silence. Animals in the wild are very attentive to movements and noises. Avoid, as much as possible, stepping on dry branches, try to lift your feet when walking and do not drag them. When we walk in the forest, we generate a disturbance in it, and just as when a drop falls into a container of water, we must wait a while for the water (the forest) to return to its original state.

Silence is Recommended

When you want to see or hear birds, stop for a moment. Normally about 10 minutes of silence is recommended so that the place we are in returns to its original state. If we walk in a group try to speak at a low volume. If we are walking and talking loudly or shouting, it is very likely that we will hardly see any wildlife.

During your walk and especially during the moments of detention and silence, pay attention to the sounds of the forest. You will see that as time goes by, birds will sing closer to you, you will be able to hear movements in the leaves, etc. In the forest we can easily find about 10 species of birds singing, try to recognize different songs and ask your guide to help you identify some of them.

Walk attentive and alert, looking for signs of movement, sometimes we may get lucky and see a pudú, a fox, or who knows, maybe you might encounter a puma.

Look closely

Often it is not possible to see the more elusive animals, however, it is possible to find traces of tracks and feces. Look closely where there is mud or wet soil, some footprints may be marked. Ask your guide to help you identify what type of footprint it is.

Ask the wildlife guide about any doubt

If you want to see a particular animal, ask the guide about the types of habitats where they can be found, the times of the day or night where they are most active, etc.

And above all Enjoy the nature hike! Even if you could not see what you wanted to see, it is always possible to enjoy the environment, the sound of the leaves of the trees in the wind, the birds singing, the view from the viewpoints, the fresh air. Chile has wonderful landscapes, we just have to enjoy them.

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